David Edward Phalon

David Edward Phalon, 64, a musician, loving husband of Carole Ann McDonald, and devoted father to Sara and Helen, passed away on November 27, 2014 in Summerville, SC. Dave was born on September 27, 1950 in Winchester, Mass. to Edward Arthur and Evelyn Alice (née Smyth) Phalon.

Dave grew up in Woburn, Mass. He graduated from Woburn High School in 1968. After high school, Dave, an extremely talented singer and keyboard player, worked with various bands in the Boston area before heading West to California and embarking on what would be his life-long love and occupation, playing music. In 1988, Dave realized his dream of moving to Nashville, where he peddled his original songs and played keyboards, as well as sang, in road bands for, among others, Dave & Sugar, Shelly West, and Doug Kershaw, for whom he also served as road manager.

Dave and Ann moved to Summerville in 1994, and he worked first for HealthSource, then CIGNA, as a Call Center Supervisor. Later, he worked for SelectHealth of South Carolina as the Customer Service Manager of an Outbound Call Center, where, as his phone reps fondly recalled, his door was always open, and a smile was always on his face. Dave is remembered as a fair, compassionate boss who charmed the people who worked for him with his witty e-mails, long-but-funny stories, focus on multicultural awareness in the workplace, and love of sports. Dave also shared his love of music with his co-workers, as he was the DJ at numerous office parties and the weddings of fellow employees, and he performed with a company band at work functions. In 2014, Dave retired and focused his attention on his family and his work as a musician.

Dave married Ann in 1988 in Dallas, Texas. They were happily married for 26 years. Dave was a member of the American Federation of Musicians. He enjoyed making music; reading, especially biographies; collecting guitars; watching music documentaries and biopics; participating in and watching sports; sharing in the accomplishments of his beautiful daughters; eating anything thing Ann cooked; and celebrating life. Though Dave’s first love was baseball, he was a die-hard fan of “the big four” New England Teams — the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, the Boston Bruins, and the Boston Celtics.

Dave performed his original songs at the renowned Blue Bird Café in Nashville, TN, enjoying an enthusiastic response, as he always did when he performed, from the audience. Dave also won a national contest, “Why My Dad Is My Hero,” sponsored by Major League Baseball, for which he received the prize of taking batting practice from Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, and he auditioned for and was chosen as a contestant in Universal Studios Orlando’s American Idol Experience. In addition, he won numerous singing competitions and a Battle of the Bands. Dave’s signature songs were “Desperado,” “Great Balls of Fire,” and “Georgia.”

Dave is survived by his spouse, Ann, of Summerville, SC; his children, Sara McDonald-Phalon, of North Adams, Mass., & Helen McDonald-Phalon, of Summerville, SC; his sister, Diane (John) Dolbeare, of Nashua, NH; his brother, Steven (Carol) Phalon, of Corpus Christi, TX; his nieces and nephews, Missy An, Brandon Pach, John Phalon, Chrissie Phalon, and Brian Phalon; and other relatives.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Edward & Evelyn Phalon.

A graveside service will be held at Dust to Dust Green Burial Cemetery, 257 Nulty Crossing Rd, Swansea, SC 29160, at 1:30pm on Wednesday, December 10th, 2014. Arrangements are by Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation & Burial Services, North Charleston, SC.

Memorial donations can be made to the Helen-McDonald Phalon College Fund by going to hjmpcollegefund.webs.com. Condolences may be left on the Simplicity Lowcountry Cremation & Burial Services online guest book at lowcountryfuneral.com.

7 Comments

So many good memories of hanging out in your room…..listening to music…..often while you accompanied it on your guitar…..many summer nights walking to the High School Tennis Courts (hell no we didn’t play) because that was where the girls were…..So long old friend…..Rock On…..

i meet Dave when I was hired by Healthsource in 1997. He was my supervisor. He supported by promotion as a CSR III. I truly liked him as a boss. He was funny and fair! He treated all with compassion and a fairness that could only be matched with a formerly boss I worked for at a local big 3 auto finance. He made Healthsource/Cigna a fun place to work! He was there to celebrate everyone’s compliments! I will never forget his compassion for me when one of my beloved nephews passed in 1999. He asked if I was ok for many days after my loss. I will never forget Dave! He played and sung like a nightengale! A true talent! RIP boss! I will see you in eternity! My sympathies to his family, whom he loved so much!
Revena Dawson
Hanahan, SC

A favorite memory of Dave was his willingness to help in anyway that he could. He could find the humor in most any situation but always with respect. He lifted people up, never cut them down. He will be missed.

I will never forget the croud reaction one night at the Elks Club when they surrounded the stage while you sang “You don’t have to call me darling”.
You were great.
I enjoyed everytime we played together.
Now you can play in Heaven with all the great ones.

Dave was a constant companion of mine in the early 1970s..A gentle funny, agreeable soul. He had an encyclopedic record collection. and while we were working on forming a band, we listened to every kind of music imaginable. Between the two of us, Dave was the one who actually did something with music. I will always remember Dave as a friend – there in good times and in bad. I am sure he was a loving companion and a devoted father. Dave had a wonderful sense of humor. His passing brings together the odd mix of remembering him in his youth, both of us feeling indestructible and careless -matched now with the . dawning awareness – in our older years – of our mortality fragility – life is frail and precious. I would wish for his family what Dave would wish, I am sure: Be strong for Dave. Carry on for Dave. Let him know his life with you made you strong enough to survive.